Peabody Mayor Presents 'Worst Case' Budget To Council

PEABODY, MA — Mayor Ted Bettencourt presented his $156.9 million budget proposal for the fiscal year beginning July 1 to Peabody City Council Wednesday.

Bettencourt had previously warned the budget would represent a "worst case scenario" and include job cuts as the city grapples with the economic devastation of the coronavirus crisis. In addition to an anticipated 15 percent cut in state aide, the city is expecting big cuts in local revenue which led to a $6.7 million deficit.

Previously on Peabody Patch: Mayor Expects Layoffs, Service Cuts In Budget

The proposed budget is 1.2 percent lower than the current year's budget. Bettencourt is proposing to close the gap through the elimination of some jobs, including jobs in the school district. The city also offered early retirement to school employees to help cut costs.

The one wild card is the state funding number, which the city is currently projecting to be 15 percent lower than the $30 million it received this year. But Bettencourt said it may not be until August before the city gets clarity on state aide for the fiscal year.

Dave Copeland covers Peabody and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).